My first week in Romania for month 9 included Parent Vision Trip (PVT) for Q squad. This was a time for parents to join their children on the field for a week to do ministry and get a glimpse of what our lives look like on a daily basis. Although mine couldn’t make it, I was able to meet 38 parents from my squad, and they all so warmly welcomed me into their families. From the very first day of PVT, I felt so much love from each person and received many hugs from moms and dads. I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved with PVT and such a sweet time to see the interaction between racers and parents. During this week ministry looked a bit different than normal and so it became a time for me to serve these parents.
The main way I served the parents was through intercession each morning for 2 hours and praying over the room where they would gather to debrief each day. Through these prayers, obedience to God’s call for us to lift them up, and faithfulness each morning, we saw God show up in HUGE ways this week. There were many hard conversations between parents and their children with various topics. Parents saw their kids do ministry and even bring locals to Christ. Many experienced life in a new way through how we live in community as a squad and seeing how much love we have for one another through our interaction with one another. Despite the busy schedules, jet-lagged parents, and being thousands of miles from home, we were all impacted by this week. Parents got to see what life looks like for us on a daily basis and get a glimpse of how we have lived the past 8 months.
Hope Church Romania and myself with my squadmate Taylor on our off day in near by city.
The beginning of the week was very hard for me, not because my parents were not here but because of what interaction looked like with PVT and the nonPVTers. Through the emotions, tears, thoughts and frustrations, God showed me the reality that these parents came to see their kids and not me. After getting past this reality, God blessed me so much the entire week with how much each parent loved on me. They each showed me so much love and care, and it was so amazing to put faces with parents who have been commenting on my blogs and posts for months now. I want to say thank you to each parent who was apart of PVT for showing me so much love and allowing me apart of your families for the week.
After a very different week from the past months on the Race, I am so grateful for Parent Vision Trip and that Q squad was able to be together for this time. Usually squads are separated for the week, but I was blessed to get to interact and mingle with the parents for the week. Thanks AIM for allowing Q squad to experience PVT in this way and allowing us to see squad mates reunited with their parents for the week. And for the blog title I have to credit Eddie Burlew, my teammate Paige’s dad, since the night that he described Christianity in this way.
Pics from Parent Vision Trip: Top left Katie Stoddart my squad leader with her mom and pastor Raul-her mom was baptized during the week, bottom left 4 dads praying together, and right this is Eddie taking a nap on the way near by city on off day!
